Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min said that he has exchanged messages with Andre Gomes after the Everton player's sickening injury last weekend.
It was the South Korean's tackle in Tottenham's 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Sunday that led to Gomes breaking and dislocating his ankle.
Son, who made a genuine attempt to play the ball, was inconsolable when he saw the extent of the injury and needed support from Spurs in the aftermath, which made him a doubt for Wednesday's trip to Red Star Belgrade.
However, Son – who was sent off for the tackle but later had the red card overturned by the Football Association – wanted to get back out on the pitch and will be glad he did after scoring twice in the 4-0 win that puts his side on the brink of the Champions League knockout stages.
"I text him, it's been a really tough few days for me," Son said. "I text him before I flew and he text me back. I still feel really, really bad about this. I feel really sorry.
"Football is a sport where something [like this] can happen, nobody wants to see this situation.
"I'm so sad this happened and that I was involved with this situation. It's been a really, really tough few days.
"I just text him to say best wishes to you, I'm really sorry for you, your family and your team-mates."
"Of course, Gomes got the injury but the people around me sent me really, really strong messages.
"My team-mates and even Everton fans as well, as well as Tottenham fans, even from South Korea.
"I'm really, really grateful for that. Still, I feel really sorry about this situation, but on the pitch I want to work for it because the team needs especially positive energy.
"I tried to work out this situation. I want to send the message that I'm really grateful for all the messages from every single supporter."
Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris has had surgery on his elbow injury but remains on course to return early in 2020.
The Spurs goalkeeper suffered a dislocation to the joint when he landed awkwardly on his left arm in the third minute of Tottenham's 3-0 defeat at Brighton on October 5.
The club were monitoring the problem, but after specialists said his left elbow remained "unstable" Lloris was put under the knife.
The surgery is not expected to lengthen his recovery time, with the club saying he is due to return to training early next year.
The injury was self-inflicted as Lloris inexplicably dropped Dan Burn's cross on the goalline against the Seagulls as he tried to avoid carrying the ball over the line.
He allowed Neal Maupay an easy tap-in and suffered the injury as he fell backwards. He needed lengthy treatment on the pitch and was carried off with gas and oxygen.
It set Brighton up for a comprehensive win as Spurs, who are at home to 6th place Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday, put in one of their worst performances under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Paulo Gazzaniga has impressed in Lloris' absence, with the club also bringing free agent Michel Vorm back to the club on a deal until the end of the season.
